“Old Spencer Rifle,The”
Description
The singer tells of Johnny's visit, and his "shooting" her with his gun, no less than seven times. John does the mother too and goes off with his gun-barrel bent.
Notes
Annotator Legman in Randolph-Legman I asserts that the melody of this apparently unique ballad is "unmistakably" similar to "Yankee Doodle." In fact, it directly quotes "Cotton-Eyed Joe." - EC
References
- Randolph-Legman I, pp. 128-129, "The Old Spencer Rifle" (1 text, 1 tune)
- Roud #11499
- BI, RL128